Lighthouses of Lithuania

The coast of Lithuania is relatively short, extending south to north about 185 km (115 mi). The southern half of the coast features the northern part of the Curonian Spit (Kursiu Nerija), and behind the spit is the broad and shallow Curonian Sound (Kursiu Marios). The sound empties into the Baltic through a narrow channel at its north end. The country's major port, Klaipeda, is located on this channel. Most of the Lithuanian coast was under German control from the eighteenth century until 1920; Klaipeda was then known by its German name, Memel. (In the listing, the historical German names of the light stations are placed in curly brackets {}.) Lithuania became independent in 1920, although it was incorporated into the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1990. Coastal and Klaipeda harbor aids to navigation in Lithuania are regulated by the Lithuanian Maritime Safety Administration (Lietuvos Saugios Laivybos Administracija), but since 2001 the actual operation of the lights has been assigned to the Lighthouse and Hydrography Service of the Klaipeda State Seaport. Aids to navigation on the Curonian Sound and Nemunas River system are managed by the Inland Waters Navigation Inspectorate (VVVLI). The Lithuanian word for a lighthouse is svyturys. Special thanks to Bronius Sriubas (LY1CM) for contributing the photos on this page. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. LT numbers are from the Lithuanian light list. Light List numbers are from volume C of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 116. What's Hot:   General Sources Lighthouses of Lithuania Special thanks to Bronius Sriubas for contributing photos of all seven Lithuanian lighthouses. Online List of Lights - Lithuania Photos of navigational aids posted by Alexander Trabas. Leuchttürme an der litauischen Küste Photos of six Lithuanian lighthouses by Bernd Claußen. Leuchttürme der ehemaligen deutschen Ostgebiete Postcard views of historical German lighthouses of the Baltic posted by Klaus Hülse.

Nida Light photo copyright Bronius Sriubas; used by permission

Curonian Spit (Kursiu Nerija) Lighthouses
*** Nida {Nidden} (2)

1953 (station established 1874). Active; focal plane 76 m (249 ft); two white flashes every 5.8 s. 29 m (95 ft) round cylindrical concrete and steel tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal stripes. Fresnel lens (transferred from the 1874 tower) remains in use. Sriubas's photo is above, Trabas has an excellent photo, the surrounding national park has historical information, and Google has a good satellite view. Huelse has a postcard view of the original lighthouse, which was heavily damaged during World War II. Although it was patched up after the war, it was decided to replace it with a taller tower. Nida, a popular seaside resort, is on the east side of the Curonian Spit not far north of the Russian border. The lighthouse is located on a hill called Urbo Kalnas west of town, in the center of the peninsula. Accessible by car. Site open; tower open, but information is needed on the schedule. Operator: Klaipeda State Seaport. Site manager: Kursiu Nerija National Park. ARLHS LIT-004; LT-044; Admiralty C3318; NGA 11984.

Pervalka {Pferdehaken, Perwelk} (3)

Date unknown (station established 1900). Active; white light, characteristic unknown. 14 m (46 ft) round cast iron tower, painted red. Sriubas has contributed a good photo, ARLHS also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Lighthouse Explorer has Michel Forand's postcard view of the second lighthouse, which was very similar to the present light. Pervalka is a town on the east side of the Curonian Spit, facing the Curonian Sound . The light marks the convergence of three channels, leading respectively north to Klaipeda, southwest to Nida, and southeast to Ventes Ragas on the mainland side of the sound. Located on a small artificial island just off the cape Zirgu Ragas on the north side of town. Accessible only by boat, but there should be excellent views from the mainland. Site and tower closed. Operator: Inland Waters Navigation Inspectorate. Site manager: Kursiu Nerija National Park. ARLHS LIT-005.

* Juodkrante (Yuodkrant) {Schwartzort}

Date unknown (1950s?). Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); white light, 3 s on, 5 s off. 20 m (66 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery but no lantern. The tower is covered on all four sides with a white slatted daymark, making it appear like an enclosed lighthouse from a distance. Sriubas has contributed a good photo, and Trabas has a closeup photo. Juodkrante is about midway in the length of Lithuania's portion of the Curonian Spit, about 35 km (22 mi) south of Klaipeda. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Klaipeda State Seaport. Site manager: Kursiu Nerija National Park. ARLHS LIT-001; LT-043; Admiralty C3334; NGA 11996.

Mainland Lighthouses

* Uostadvaris {Kuwertshof} 1876. Active (?); characteristics unknown. Approx. 13 m (42 ft) octagonal cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached by a covered passageway to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. The buildings are unpainted red brick; lantern and gallery painted white. Sriubas has contributed a good photo, Lithuanian Wikipedia has an excellent photo, a photo taken in the lantern room is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south side of the Atmata River, one of the mouths of the Nemunas River, about 12 km (7.5 mi) north of Rusne. Site open, tower status unknown. Operator: Inland Waters Navigation Inspectorate. Site manager: Nemunas Delta Regional Park (?). ARLHS LIT-007. ** Ventes Ragas (Cape Vente) {Windenburger Eck, Windsburg} (2) 1852 (station established 1827). Active (?). Approx. 13 m (42 ft) octagonal brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached by a covered passageway to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. Buildings are unpainted red brick; lantern and gallery painted white. A recent photo is available, Sriubas's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. The keeper's house is an ornithogical field station and museum, well known among birders. Located about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Kintai at the end of the Sturmai peninsula, which projects into the Curonian Sound. Site open, museum open, tower open to visitors but the schedule is not known. Operator: Inland Waters Navigation Inspectorate. Site manager: Nemunas Delta Regional Park. ARLHS LIT-008.

Ventes Ragas Light photo copyright Bronius Sriubas; used by permission

* Klaipeda {Memel} Range Front

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); quick-flashing white light. 29 m (95 ft) square skeletal tower. The tower has a diamond-shaped slatted daymark, painted white; below that is a long rectangular slatted daymark, painted white with a black vertical stripe. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the north bank of the entrance, 260 m (285 yd) in front of the rear lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. LT-006; Admiralty C3345.9; NGA 12000.

* Klaipeda {Memel} Range Rear (2) 1950 (station established 1796). Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 40 m (131 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a 2-story octagonal concrete base. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands; base painted black; lantern and gallery painted red. Sriubas's photo is at right, Trabas has a closeup photo, a 2006 photo shows the lighthouse freshly repainted, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is the rear light of a range guiding ships through the narrow entrance between the end of the Curonian Spit and the mainland. Huelse has a postcard view of the original lighthouse, one of the oldest on the German Baltic; it was destroyed late in World War II. Located on the north (mainland) side of the entrance, at the northwestern edge of Klaipeda, a neighborhood called Svyturios because it has the lighthouse (svyturys). Operator: Klaipeda State Seaport. ARLHS LIT-002; LT-007; Admiralty C3346; NGA 12004. Pagrindinis Siaurinis Pirminis Date unknown. Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 1 s off. 61 m (200 ft) triangular skeletal tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in an industrial area about 600 m (0.4 mi) southeast of the historic lighthouse. Site and tower closed, although the tower is easy to see from nearby. Admiralty C3340; NGA 12022. Klaipeda Winter Harbor South Mole Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); green flash every 4 s. 17 m (56 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted green. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south mole of a harbor basin about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southeast of the historic lighthouse. Site and tower closed, although the tower is easy to see from nearby. Admiralty C3359; NGA 12040.

Klaipeda Light photo copyright Bronius Sriubas; used by permission

* Sventoji

1957. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 39 m (128 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower with lantern and gallery; the tower also has slatted daymarks enclosing all four sides of its upper third. Lantern painted red, daymarks red with a white horizontal band. Sriubas has contributed a good photo, Trabas has an excellent photo, Located in Sventoji, the northernmost town on the Lithuanian coast, about 8 km (5 mi) south of the Latvian border. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Klaipeda State Seaport. ARLHS LIT-006; LT-001; Admiralty C3382; NGA 12044.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

•  {Memel Nordmole}, (1884-1945), Klaipeda. ARLHS LIT-003.

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted April 21, 2005. Checked and revised May 14, 2008. Lighthouses: 11. Site copyright 2008 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.